Contstrttctlolt of envelops



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.I

ROBERT T. KNIGHT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONSTRUCTION OF ENVELOPS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 14,614, dated April 8, 1856.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT T. KNIGHT, of Philadephia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and improved mode of constructing and securing envelops and to se-` cure letters, also thereby prevent their being opened without detection and also to secure the envelop to the contents if it should be requisite,`making it one parcel, which when postmarked establishes the time of mailing the letter, as they are one and inseparable; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference'being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in making the ends of the envelop where they are joined the full width overlapping and interlacing each other, the back being the whole width and extending beyond the top of the letter so as to fold over it, then the front is 'turned o-ver the back and one or more metal clasps are passed through the margin of the letter, if both are to be joined.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I cut the envelop so that the ends A A may overlap each other and interlace, being cut for that purpose as at B, B, B, making it more diiicult to insert an instrument or reach the contents. Thel lower lap C, I turn over the letter when inclosed, making more substance for the clasp. I then fold the letter so as to leave a. margin F, Fig. 2. Place the letter in and turn over the lap C then t-he lap E and seal it. Then insert one or more clasps through the margin and secure them as at H.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. The lapping and interlacing of the ends and the full width, the back being the full width and length, turning lover the inclosed letter so that when the clasps are in it is impossible to open it without detection.

2. Also the application of the metal clasps to the envelop, and letter or both together making it one and the same parcel for the better security of the contents and also to fix the date of mailing the inclosed letter which is highly important in many legal and public documents. v

ROBERT T. KNIGHT. -f

Witnesses WILLIAMS AGLE,

J MAGARGE. 

